Attachment unit for acetylene torches



N. H. CHRISTENSON ATTACHMENT UNIT FOR ACETYLENE TORCl-IES Filed Dec; 14, 1945 INVENTOR. N/Ls H. CHmsrznsm fatented Oct.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT'UNIT FOR ACETYLENE TORCHES Nils H. Christensen, Wyoming,0hio

Application December 14, 1945, Serial No. 635,074

-4 Claims. 1 1

This invention relates to an acetylene torch, and more particularly to an attachment unit adapted to be fitted to the torch whereby same may be manipulated about a pivot'support for cutting described-circles or ellipses "in accurately curved lines. The attachment can alsobe used as a layout tool with or without the torch. One advantage of the attachment unit isthat conventional torches may be used for cutting along-accurate curved lines and do not need tobe specially constructed. The attachment unit may be attached to any part of'thetorch, preferablyto the nozzle, and can be used with a torch of a-conventional or special design. 7

Generally described, the attachment unit comprises two arms pivoted together in the general form of a compass with means for adjusting and securing the arms at any desired angle to each other. The free ends of the arms are each provided with an extension'arm adjustably mounted as 'tQ-Iength in a holder "pivoted tothe end'of the arms. Means is provided-on the extension member for securing the attachment unit to the torch, thispreferably being a clamp for engaging the nozzle'of the torch. The pivot preferably comprises a clamp screw and a winged head whereby the arm holders'may be adjusted at any angle and clamped in adjusted position. The extensionarm which is not 'clamped'to the torch may be'of difierent types so that they may be readily interchanged for difierent types of work being performed with the torch. This extension arm may be clamped in the arm holder bya clamp screw or some other device or it maybe loosely mounted to be sprin pressed when in use. The extension arm-for holdingthe attachment to the torch or nozzle maybe substituted with a chalk-holding :arm'whereby the attachment may be used independent of the torch for marking for layout work.

For a better understanding of the drawings reference is made "tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a torch handle with an attachment connected thereto embodying the 'invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the attachment showing a substitute extension arm;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view showing variation in use of the attachment with the substitute extension arm;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a chalk holding arm whichmay be used with the attachment; and

Fig. 5 isa-side'elevation of'the' head nozzle and the collar or-nutior attaching thehead and nozzle together.

removed portion of the collar permits the nozzle E3 to be inserted in-the'collar and have one end clamped tightly against the seat of thehead. The

nozzle is provided with a flange-l5, and the flange l2 on the collar engages the flange M on the nozzle so that the flanged end of the nozzle may be clamped to seat against theend of the head. The head and-nozzles are-provided with passages A and B- communicating with'the-passages in the handle leading to supply lines attached to parts.

eand 5.

' The attachment unit, denoted generally by numeral I5, comprises arms 56 and ll, pivoted-together at [8, and an arcuate guide l9 fitted to one arm by a nut 2d screw threaded to the reduced end 2! of the guide. A shoulder 22 on the guide at the junction of the reduced end is impinged against a spring 23 which is attached to the arm l6 at 24; A screw 25 is associated with I the other arm ii in position to impinge against the guideie and secure the arms in any angular position to which they are adjusted.

Arms l6 and Il are provided with rod holders 26 and 21 respectively pivoted to each. Holder 26 is pivoted to arm it by a bolt 28 screw-threaded to the socket and having a polygonal. head to facilitate itbeing turned. The rodfholder 26is substantialy U-shaped with rod :35 extending therethrough and clamped by the sides of the U- shaped holder. The bolt extends through the end of arm l6 and the adjacent arm of the holder and into the opposite adjacent arm to which it is screw-threadedly connected. Thereby the single bolt serves as the pivot connection for the arm and rod holder, and also for clamping the sides of the rod holder against the rod .for holding Referring specifically tothe drawing in which like numerals are used-to designate likeparts;

same in place. Rod holder .27 is likewiseattached to arm ll by a bolt 30, except that rod holder merely has a bore therethrough for reception of the rodand is clamped by another means hereinafter described.

The end 32 of rod 31 is bent at aright angle to receive jaws 33 of a clamp between which the nozzle I3 is secured by a nut 34 on the bent end which compresses the jaws of the clamp .between it and the right angle corner. This typifies any suitable clamping means provided on the attachment for securing same to the torch.

Rod 35, having bifurcated resilient ends 36 between which a piece of chalk 3? is adapted to be inserted, may be substituted in the rod holder in 1ieu-of-rod--3l in order that the devicemaybe used separately and independently of the torch for marking a described circle with the other rod serving as the center, the same as if the torch were used in the described circle. An annular sleeve a is loosely mounted on the rod 35 and can be moved towards or away from arms 36 for causing them to hold or release the chalk 37.

Rod 38 is secured to holder 2'! by clamp bolt 39 having one end screw-threaded into the wall of the holder perpendicular to the longitudinal of construction, may be used.

bore in which the rod is held for impinging against the rod and clamping same in the holder. The rod may be straight or bent to provide an intermediate offset portion 40 adjacent the pointed end 4| in order to provide additional means for regulating the diameter of circle to be described. It is especiall suitable for permitting circles being described of larger or smaller diameter than would be permitted by the angular adjustment of the pivoted arms alone. The point 41 may be adjusted to as little as a fraction of an inch from the tip of the nozzle, and because of its proximity to the heat at the nozzle tip, the pointed end 4| is preferably of stellite, a non-ferrous hard metal alloy.

Rod 42 is advantageously bent at one end at an angle to provide a support for one end of a spring 44 connected to it, the other end of the spring being connected to the attachment device, preferably to the end of the bolt 39. To facilitate attachment of the spring, the bent end of the rod may be advantageously grooved at 45 for seating the spring. When the rod is used with the spring, the bolt 39 will be released to allow free reciprocation of the rod in the holder and the pointed rod spring-pressed against the point of support. This rod is particularly useful for cutting ellipses, such as is required when branching pipe connections at odd angles in the sides or corners of rectangular tanks or in other pipes of the same or larger diameters.

The operator may easily and quickly use th held in the socket while operating the torch in a path described by the attachment. Y

The pointed end 48 of the right angle end of the rod may be employed as the pivot about which attachment with the rod 42 fixed or resiliently I the torch is described in lieu of pointed end 41.

The holder may be adjusted at the proper angle to permit the pointed end 46 to be brought into proper position. The adaptability of the device for this variation is generally illustrated in Fig. 3. The rod is especially adapted for this purpose where large circles are to be described which are much larger than would be permitted by the angular adjustment of the arms alone.

The nose 1 has medially of the wall of the recess in which bolt 8 is inserted an annular groove C with a passage leading to two openings D in opposite faces through which lubricating grease may be introduced through a longitudinal bore in the bolt.

One of the passages in the nozzle l3 connects with passages A, and the other passage in the nozzle connects with the passage B.

From the above description, it is apparent that the attachment lends itself to many and various adjustments, thereby permitting the use of torches on all different types of works. Cutting of holes, circles, ellipses and work of similar nature can, with the aid of the attachment, be used to do with torches what heretofore have required the use of machine tools. The attachment is readily fitted to any torch and permits the torch to be manipulated to cut accurately I claim:

1. A trammeler attachment unit for describing accurately curved lines about a pivot support with acetylene torches comprising arms pivoted together at one end, a rod holder pivotally connected at the free end of each arm, a socket in each of the holders, and a rod slidably adjustable in each of the sockets, means for securing the rods in adjusted position in the sockets, and clamp means on one of the rods for attaching the unit to an acetylene torch..

2. A circle-forming attachment for acetylene torches comprising arms pivoted together at one end to form a compass-like member, a rod holder pivotably connected at the free ends of each arm having a socket therein, an extension rod slidably adjustable in each of the sockets, means for securing the rods in adjusted position, and means on one of the extension rods for clamping the attachment to the nozzle of an acetylene torch. v v

3. An attachment unit for an acetylene torch comprising a rod for describing the torch in an orbicular path about a point of support, a compass-like member having the ends of two legs pivoted together with their opposite ends free, a holder pivoted to the free end of one of the legs in which said rod is freely reciprocable, spring means between said rod and unit to spring-press the rod against the point of support, a holder pivoted to the free end of the other leg, an extension rod carried by said second holder, and means carried by said second holder for attaching the unit to an acetylene torch.

4. An attachment unit for an acetylene torch comprising a rod for describing the torch in an orbicular path about a point of support, a compass-like member having the ends of two legs pivoted together with their opposite ends free, a holder pivoted to the free end of one ofthe legs of the member having the rod reciprocably mounted therein, means for holding the rec'iprocably mounted rod in position in the holder, a second rod pivotably connected to the free end of the other leg, and means for clamping the second rod to an acetylene torch.

mus H. CHRISTENSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 200,048 Freshman Feb. 5, 1878 595,607 Coykendall Dec. 14, 1897 623,805 ,Murphy Apr. 25, 1899 a 999,104 Erickson July 25, 1911 1,564,636 Smith Dec. 8, 1925 1,738,498 Meyer Dec. 3, 1929 1,780,814 Cregger Nov. 4, 1930 2,202,133 Young May 28, 1940 2,223,720 Doyle Dec. 3, 1940 r 2,432,703 Walden Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country I Date 549,923 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1942; 

